Improved Probation Service performance is behind the increase in the number of criminals being sent back to jail after being released on licence, the Home Office said today.

A report by the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) today said numbers have more than trebled in the last five years, while four out of 10 released from short prison sentences were recalled to jail for committing new crimes.

However, the majority were recalled for breaking licence conditions rather than for re-offending.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Prisoners on licence who give cause for concern face swift action to recall them to custody.

"The increase in the recall of prisoners reflects our concern to protect the public from further offending and sends a signal that we will not tolerate poor behaviour from offenders serving a sentence in the community.

"The increase in the number of recalls is a direct result of the Probation Service improving its performance in enforcing licence conditions."